ATU expands free speech area Takes step to add bachelor's degree in criminal justiceThe Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees unanimously approved expansion of designated areas for free speech during its regular meeting Thursday at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center. To accommodate a growing student population, the board approved the public speech and demonstration expansion near Hindsman Tower to include the lawn area from the south steps of the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center to the north...

Quilts of ValorOn Aug. 8, five local Vietnam veterans were presented with a quilt at the American Legion Hut as part of the Quilts of Valor (QOV) foundation. Those who received quilts were Larry Tilley, U.S. Army; Don Samol, U.S. Air Force; George Keith, U.S. Army; Francis Jones, U.S. Air Force; and Russ Hall, U.S. Air Force. The Quilts of Valor, a foundation that began in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, mission statement is to “cover service members and veterans...

Council approves bonds, grant actionsThe Russellville City Council approved an ordinance during its regular meeting Thursday that will authorize the issuance of industrial development revenue bonds to finance a $50 million expansion at ConAgra Foods. Tom Leggett, an attorney from Friday Eldredge and Clark of Little Rock, explained that this bond issue was similar as the 2012 bond issue of $100 million for a previous ConAgra Foods expansion project. The Arkansas Valley Alliance fo...

Oil leak results in no injuries at plantRussellville firefighters responded to ConAgra Frozen Foods on Friday after they received a dispatch of a commercial structure fire, but no injuries were reported and the cause of smoke was a small oil leak. At approximately 8:31 p.m. Friday, Russellville Fire Dept. units E1, E3, E4, L1 and Pottsville Fire Department under the command of Battalion Chief Kurt McBryde along with the Fire Marshal's office, responded to 3100 E. Main St. on a comme...

Thompson continues the family traditionAs the newly minted summer 2017 graduates of Arkansas Tech University go forth to pursue their adventures, they will follow a variety of paths. Zach Thompson of Hamburg earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree during the Aug. 12 commencement ceremony at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. It was one of approximately 1,000 academic credentials conferred by ATU at the close of the summer 2017 terms. Thompson's path was construc...

#todayAlzheimer's Arkansas will host the the Alzheimer's Walk of Love from 9 a.m. to noon today at the L.V. Williams Boys and Girls Club located at 600 E. 16th St., in Russellville. For more information, call 501-224-0021 or email barbara.jensen@alzark.org

City Corp. officials meet with ADEQCity Corporation officials met with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) earlier this month and discussed recent wastewater violations, steps the water and sewer utility has taken in the past and plans for the future. General Manager Steve Mallett told the Board of Directors staff from Garver and CWB met with ADEQ officials on Aug. 3 in North Little Rock. Clint Bell from CWB provided the current status of the Consent Adminis...

New outdoor access food pantry availableOver the past year, several food pantries and blessing boxes have been created outdoors across the state which allows public access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The most recent food pantry was installed over the weekend at Russellville High School and sponsored by the Crown Club, comprised of high school students and is affiliated and sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary. Sarah Stobaugh, high school assistant principal, expressed the Crown ...

Atkins to make an offer on landATKINS — The Atkins School Board decided to make an offer on property near the elementary playground and heard various other items. The board granted the school district to make an offer on a piece of land located behind the elementary playground and adjacent to property currently owned by the district. The land is approximately six to eight acres. According to Superintendent Joe Fisher, the asking price is $4,000 per acre with a maximum price...

U of O kicks off the fall semesterCLARKSVILLE -- University of the Ozarks welcomed approximately 300 new students to campus Aug. 10 for the start of First Week 2017, the official kickoff for the 2017-18 academic year. Classes for the Fall 2017 Semester will begin on Tuesday. First Week, which began last Thursday and ends Aug. 21, is an on-campus orientation program to help new students become acclimated to the University. First Week began Thursday with faculty, staff and upper...

Tourism & Visitor's Center open downtownFinally, there is a place downtown that sells items with the Russellville name on them. Need a pen and paper with the Russellville Tourism Visitor's Center logo? How about shopping baskets, change purses, eyeglass holders, hot and cold beverage containers, even a shoeshine kit with the name Russellville on them? These items and more can be found at the Tourism and Visitor's Center office at 110 South Commerce, between City Hall and Main Street...

One Night, One Cause scheduledThe fifth annual One Night One Cause benefit for the Boys and Girls Christian Home (BGCH) in India is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the First Baptist Church in Russellville. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Admission to the event is open and free to the public. Work for the home first began in 1899 by Albert and Mary Norton, the original founders, and stayed with the Norton family for three generations until 1958 when Ruth Norton, at t...

Freeman teaches drama camp, performs playOver the course of the summer, the River Valley Arts Center (RVAC) conducted several children’s camps on varying topics such as pottery and art. One of the more recent camps was a theater camp taught by Nathan Freeman. Freeman, a 2011 graduate of Arkansas Tech University, worked in community theater in Dallas, Texas after graduating and recently moved back to the Arkansas River Valley. Prior to teaching the drama camp, he worked as the stage m...

Library distributes eclipse glassesA line formed prior the Pope County Library opening Thursday that wrapped around the building. Library card holders waited to receive a free pair of solar eclipse glasses in preparation of the total solar eclipse on Monday.

State funds gone, new voting machines to cost county $390,000 The Pope County Election Commission (PCEC) recently met with Pope County Judge Jim Ed Gibson, County Treasurer Larry Holman and Justices of the Peace Ernie Enchelmayer and Bill Sparks to discuss the current situation of needing to purchase new election equipment which the cost of at the moment would fall solely on the county. Last September, commissioners formed a list of the equipment they expected they would need to become compliant within f...